A MAN who came eye to eye with the alleged 4th July parade gunman has told how he shielded his wheelchair-bound wife and two-month-old grandson in a stroller while bodies fell around them.
Michael Schwartz, 82, said the act likely saved all their lives because five people were on the ground with bullet wounds on their backs and another woman was dead about six feet away from them.
“She was face down in a pool of blood,” he and his wife told The Sun from their beautiful Highland Park, Illinois home.
About 15 minutes from Schwartz’s home, police said a gunman fired 70 times. Dozens were shot and hospitalized and seven have died.
“I heard about 30 shots. Pop, pop, pop. It was faster than anything I’ve heard before,” he said.
Then there was a quiet moment – likely when the gunman was reloading – followed by another round of about 30 shots, Schwartz said.
HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING
The gunman was wearing all black, crouched on the ground at the intersection of 2nd and Cental avenues in a “military-style” stance and shooting with an assault rifle, he said.
“He was shooting methodically, deliberately and cold-blooded,” Schwartz said. “I couldn’t see his face because it was hidden, but he seemed emotionless.”
After the second round of gunshots, Schwartz saw the gunman run off and yelled to police where he went.
He showed The Sun a picture on his phone of blood on his wife’s white shirt and said he was hit with something. He didn’t know what.
“I don’t know why he did it or didn’t shoot at us. But we’re still here.”
Robert “Bobby” E Crimo III, 22, was captured following an hours-long manhunt after he allegedly opened fire at parade-goers on Monday.
Seven people were shot dead and 30 others were left injured in the holiday tragedy.
Crimo was arrested when cops hunted down the silver Honda Fit that he was driving – hours after the deadly sniper attack at the parade.
Footage shared online shows Crimo being held down and cuffed by police just outside of Chicago.
He was seen with his face on the ground as cops swooped in on him.
The capture comes after the alleged gunman was spotted around 6.30pm local time when officers tried to stop him – but he sped away, prompting a brief pursuit before he came to a stop.
He was taken into custody “without incident” and charges are pending as police continue to investigate.
The FBI put out an alert about Crimo, detailing his appearance and tattoos as they appealed for information.
Crimo posted videos on a YouTube channel that has since been terminated due to violating community guidelines.
Several of these videos contained music created by him, along with disturbing videos to accompany the tracks.
In 2019, the amateur rapper’s father, Bob Crimo, ran a mayoral campaign in the neighborhood with the slogan, “A Person for the People,” however, he was unsuccessful, reported Fox News.
Gunshots rang out just 10 minutes after the start of a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois – about 25 miles north of Chicago.
Beach chairs, baby strollers, backpacks, and blankets were found strewn across the parade grounds as revelers sought cover.
Highland police believed the shooter scaled a ladder in an alley to access the roof of a business and then proceeded to open fire at parade-goers.
“He was very discreet and very difficult to see,” Lake County Major Crimes Task Force spokesman Chris Covelli said.
Authorities recovered a “high-powered rifle” believed to have been used in the mass shooting.
The suspect’s motive appeared to be random, investigators said before they named Crimo as the person of interest.
“By all means, at this point, this appears to be completely random,” Covelli said.
The Lake County coroner’s office said five victims, all adults, were declared dead at the scene, while a sixth victim died at a local hospital.
Nicolas Toledo, 78, was identified as one of the six victims killed in the mass shooting, his family confirmed to CBS Chicago.
“We are all feeling pretty numb. We’re all pretty broken inside,” his granddaughter told the outlet.
ABC News named Jacki Sundheim as another victim in the tragedy.
First responders transported 23 people to area hospitals plus an unknown number of walk-ins.
President Joe Biden said he was left shocked by the “senseless gun violence” that “brought grief” on Independence Day.
The president has pushed for more gun reform since the May 24 shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 21 people – 19 of which were children.
In a statement, Governor JB Pritzker said: “What happened in Highland Park happens across Illinois and the nation: communities torn apart by our uniquely American plague of gun violence.”
“I’m furious. It doesn’t have to be this way, yet we allow it.
“May the memories of those lost be a blessing – and a call to action..”
Illinois Rep Brad Schneider tweeted that he and his team were gathered at the start of the parade route when the shooting began.
“Hearing of loss of life and others injured,” Schneider tweeted.
“My condolences to the family and loved ones; my prayers for the injured and for my community; and my commitment to do everything I can to make our children, our towns, our nation safer. Enough is enough!”
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Highland Park’s July 4th parade was expected to feature floats, marching bands, novelty groups, community entries, and other special entertainment, the city said on its website.
Nearby suburbs canceled their Fourth of July parades in the wake of the shooting.
